Water: Science and Solutions for Australia provides the latest information about the status of Australia’s water resources and their future prospects, the many values we hold for water, and the potential for using water more effectively to meet the growing demands of cities, farmers, industries, and the environment. The book has been edited by Dr Ian Prosser and I was fortunate enough to help out with the development of the publication when the team were planning how to approach this topic.
The publication draws upon the scientific literature to provide a broader audience with a clear picture of the water challenges and prospects facing Australia. Written by scientists and practitioners it seeks to provide a bridge from the peer-reviewed scientific literature to a broader audience of society, while providing the depth of science that this complex issue demands and deserves.
The book has been written so that it is accessible to all and can be used to underpin decisions that need to be made in business, in government, and in general to respond to the challenges of water resource management.
You can download the book from the CSIRO Publishing website as:
Hard copies of Water: Science and Solutions for Australia are also available on our CSIRO PUBLISHING website. Includes ISBN and full bibliographic information.
Many congratulations to the CSIRO team that put this publication together, in particular, Ian Prosser, Mary Mulcahy and Bill Young.
Siwan
Congratulations to the MDBA for launching their new blog ‘Free Flow’. It is hoped that the blog will be a place for open online conversations with the MDBA where anyone can ask questions and discuss the draft Basin Plan. When launching the blog the MDBA went on the record as saying:
“We want to get real conversations going. This blog is a different approach to what we’ve done in the past and people’s comments will go straight up without our seeing them. But we will get involved in the conversation.”
Please let others know about the blog and encourage people who wish to contribute to ‘join in the conversation’.
The blog is available at http://freeflow.mdba.gov.au.
Siwan
The National Water Commission have released a new Waterlines Report No 59 – October 2011 that considers the cumulative impacts of mining operations within National Water Initiative compliant land use planning processes. The report includes a framework and a set of supporting tools for use by jurisdictions and mining companies to allow them to perform nationally-consistent, risk based assessments of the cumulative impacts of mining on groundwater resources.
The framework was tested and refined in a range of geological, hydrological and land use contexts across four Australian regions:
- Hamersley/Pilbara in Western Australia
- Eromanga in South Australia
- Charters Towers in Queensland
- the Hunter Valley in New South Wales
This final Waterlines report sets out:
- a final overview of the project approach
- project outcomes and findings
- key issues to be considered in implementing the framework
The report sets out a sequential process of assessment to identify the nature, scale and magnitude of risks associated with mining impacts on groundwater. A series of eighteen technical reports detailing the various components of the project are also available. Click here for more.
Siwan
Habitat makes fish happen during Native Fish Awareness Week
Habitat makes fish happen! is the theme for this year’s Native Fish week running from the 5-12 of November 2011 across the Murray- Darling Basin.
Focusing on recreational fishing; the week aims to raise awareness of the importance of habitat in rehabilitating the Murray-Darling basin’s rivers and native fish. Recreational fishers are invited to get involved in a series of events including fish research forums, fishing competitions and community activities.
Native Fish Awareness Week will also see the release of Talking Fish, a new collection of stories, and images about what “fishing used to be like” across the Murray-Darling Basin.
There is a growing recognition that the health of rivers and waterways of the Murray-Darling Basin are at risk and native fish have declined. Restoring fish populations can be complex and the best results come from an integrated approach. Actions such as, improving habitat, managing pest fish, and restoring native vegetation can all be achieved by recreational fishers.
Habitat makes fish happen! To find out more about Native Fish Awareness Week and how to take part visit www.nativefishweek.com.au
On Friday the 4th of November I had the great pleasure of attending the graduation ceremony for this year’s Peter Cullen Trust Fellows. It was a very enjoyable evening, with the Fellows providing a lively, entertaining and thought-provoking presentation about the issues surrounding the development of Australia’s coal seam gas industry. I was delighted to be part of such a wonderful group of motivated, enthusiastic and clever people, all of whom are passionate about a sustainable future not only for Australia, but also for our planet.
Many congratulations to all this years graduates!
To learn more about the Peter Cullen Trust visit the website….. maybe 2012 is the year that you apply to be a part of this terrific program.
Siwan
Water: Science and Solutions for Australia provides the latest information about the status of Australia’s water resources and their future prospects, the many values we hold for water, and the potential for using water more effectively to meet the growing demands of cities, farmers, industries, and the environment. The book has been edited by Dr Ian Prosser and I was fortunate enough to help out with the development of the publication when the team were planning how to approach this topic.
Information and knowledge management, News, Resources | Siwan Lovett | 
20 November 2011 9:58 pm | 
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